Book Review

This book is a timely attempt to focus on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly cancer, following the Declaration of UN General Assembly for the Promotion and Control of NCDs, the prevalence of which has increased significantly because of increased life expectancy, leading to increased number of ageing population world over. Cancer is now surpassing all other NCDs including cardiovascular and diabetes. The author has selected a unique subject to address the current global challenges to prevent and control cancer and retroviral diseases with a special emphasis on cancer pathogenesis and epidemiology in this book. While pathogenesis and epidemiology have been dealt with in sufficient details with recent developments in the field, but the first chapter on global economics in relation to cancer and retroviral diseases though important may not have presented in the beginning. This could have gone as the last chapter as the focus of this book is on the disease (cancer and retroviral disease) pathogenesis and epidemiology. It diverts the readers’ attention in different direction. The global burden of HTLV 1/2, their mode of transmission and status of infection in low- and middle-income countries, such as Nigeria, along with their complications have been described aptly. Similarly, burden of HIV/AIDS and its association with non-malignant and malignant complications is also important. The most important chapter is on ‘Cancer and Infection’, but the name should have been the other way round, i.e. ‘Infection and Cancer,’ and the subtopics should have been ‘Infection-associated cancers’. Nevertheless, the author has described it in sufficient detail as several cancers (~5-10%) are now known to be associated with infection of both DNA and RNA viruses including bacteria and other pathogens.

The last chapter is on ‘risk factors for cancer’ in which epidemiology of cancer has been presented, but since this is Part II of the book is on ‘Cancer Pathogenesis and Epidemiology’, a separate chapter on cancer epidemiology was warranted, which itself is a vast subject and most important to understand the natural history and biological behaviour of various cancers for their effective control and prevention. While genetic, epigenetic, ethnicity and external risk factors for cancer are important and presented under sufficient detail, but biological risk factors should have been presented in a separate subheading. Obesity and cancer cannot come under chemical agents rather it should have been put in section 7.5.1/7.5.2 on cancer epidemiology and lifestyle which is important. Obesity is now considered to be a major factor for numerous health conditions and premature aging in humans including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

Overall, this is a good book for those who are working or specializing in cancer and HIV/AIDS and also for graduate students and researchers in the field of cancer. The book has been written in a simple, lucid and easily understandable language with natural flow, which makes it easy for anyone to read and absorb its contents.

Incorporation of necessary modifications and additions as suggested wherever required in the next edition, will further enrich the book.